‘Angels in America’ to close after successful run

Tony Kushner’s epic, seven-hour-long play, “Angels in America” is a certified UNC hit.

PlayMakers Repertory Company’s current show — with only has a few nights left on the Paul Green Theatre’s stage — is set to sell more seats than last year’s two-part, seven-hour blockbuster, “Nicholas Nickleby,” members of the company said.

Ticket sales for each two-part production have been similar.

“More people saw part one than part two, which is a pattern we also saw with ‘Nickleby,’” said Hannah Grannemann, managing director of PlayMakers, in an e-mail.

To date, “Angels” has sold 14,239 tickets, only 163 tickets short of the total for “Nickleby.”

There are three showings of part two and one showing of part one left. The performances will run this weekend.

“I think it has been an extremely successful production both in terms of the response from our patrons and in the terms of our goals as a professional theater company,” said Jeffrey Meanza, who plays Louis Ironson in “Angels.”

The play hasn’t always had such success in the state.

About 15 years ago in Charlotte, conservative residents of that city actively protested a production of Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

As a result of the controversy, the now-defunct Charlotte Repertory Theatre saw the highest ticket sales in its history.

“Controversy aside, it is one of those performances where you feel the audience leaning forward throughout the entire time they are in the room with you,” Meanza said.

One of the great things about the play — and why it stands the test of time — is because of the gambit of issues it covers, said Brendon Fox, guest director for the show.

“I think for me, at heart, it is about change and how people deal or don’t deal with change,” Fox said.

While Fox has his own perception of what the show is trying to say, he also said he hopes that people took away ideas that he and the cast did not consider.

“It is a play that is simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking as well as being a roller coaster ride to sit through,” Meanza said.

While almost all of the feedback from patrons has been overwhelmingly positive, Joseph Haj, PlayMakers’ producing artistic director, said he has heard about 10 negative remarks.

“In the end, if only eight to 10 people out of the thousands who have seen the show are upset, I think that’s not a bad proportion,” Haj said.

Haj said people are overwhelmingly enjoying the play and have only praises for it.

“I think the play remains a truly important one and I am so thrilled that our community has embraced it as much as we’d hoped,” Haj said.

PlayMakers representatives said they were hoping for a large turnout, but the high ticket sales have surpassed what they originally hoped.

“The audience is the final ingredient and the actors and myself were hoping that it would connect with people — but it’s always a gamble,” Fox said.

“That’s what makes theater so exciting.”

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.